Issue with upgrade from 5.1.7 to 5.1.8

[Trent Manary]

the install is relatively new but it stops at step 20 with this error

 [CENTER][COLOR=#262D35][FONT=verdana][B][SIZE=11px]Action Required[/SIZE][/B][/FONT][/COLOR][/CENTER]
  [CENTER][COLOR=#262D35][FONT=verdana][SIZE=11px]  [LEFT][B]Unexpected Text:[/B]  
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>                                                 [/LEFT]
  [/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR][/CENTER]